Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
Blake Ress, Commissioner
_________________________________________________________________________
March 24, 2007
The East
Chicago Cardinals used a balanced attack and defeated the North Central
Panthers, 87-83, to capture the Class 4A basketball state championship.
Three
Cardinals ended the night with 20 or more points. Senior guard E’Twaun Moore took game honors with 28, sophomore
Angel Garcia added 25 and junior Kawaan Short
finished with 20. Short also led the Cardinals with 10 rebounds.
North
Central (21-5) was coached by Doug Mitchell, who was in his 14th
season at the
Trailing
21-20 at the end of the first quarter, East Chicago (23-3) picked up the
intensity in the second and North Central’s shooting cooled off as the
Cardinals built a 19-point edge and took a 50-32 lead into the lockerroom. At halftime,
Just as it
seemed
Brown
continued his hot shooting connecting on two more from beyond the stripe in the
first two minutes of the fourth quarter, the latter drawing North Central to
within 67-65. He had only made four three-pointers throughout the season and
finished with four in the game.
The
Panthers pulled even twice in the final quarter at 69-69 and again at 71-71 but
could never retake the lead.
This was
the first
This was
the fourth meeting between the two schools in the last four years and second
this season. It was
Several 4A
game records were set including
E’TWAUN
Following the
game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named E’Twaun
Moore of East Chicago Central High School as the winner of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award.
The award
is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was
nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental
attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.
Academically,
He has
earned a scholarship to
“There
isn’t a better young gentleman that has a pleasant persona, is
mild-mannered and approachable” says East Chicago Central Principal
Darnell Adell of
He is the
son of Ezell and Edna Moore of
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate
partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to
The award
is named in honor of Arthur L. Trester, the IHSAA’s first commissioner who served the Association
from 1929-44.
VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY
Visit our
friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state
championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the
CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE
For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Couldn’t
be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official
souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in
person at the IHSAA Office (
POST-GAME
QUOTES
Pete Trgovich, East Chicago Central Head Coach
“We
played an outstanding first half. We could not have played any better. They
(North Central) came on real strong in the second half and that is a mark of a
truly good team.”
“Give
North Central credit, they came back and tied the score--unbelievable.
It’s too bad that old saying someone had to lose the game.”
(On Gordon
and
“Both
of them played at a high level, just like you expected they would. IU and
Purdue have two good players coming next year.”
“This
is the first time for a state championship in the school’s history. I am
so excited for these kids. I know what it felt like to win as a player.
It’s a lot more fun as a player than as a coach.”
“It’s
great… we came in underdogs, but played hard and got a victory.”
(on playing against Eric Gordon)
“I’m
looking forward to playing at Purdue against Gordon at IU. I love playing against him, he’s a good
man.”
Doug
Mitchell, North Central Head Coach
“They’re
a very good team. You just can’t spot them 18. They hit a lot of good shots
tonight and worked hard to get those shots.
They were hitting a lot better earlier in the year. We contested a lot of the shots they
made. They were on fire early.”
“They
did a very good job doubling Eric (Gordon) and made him work hard to get his
shots.”
“They’ve
improved quite a bit since the earlier game.
Moore (E’Twaun) was tremendous
tonight. We cut it to two a couple of
times but just couldn’t get over the hump.”
“I’m
very proud of the men our team has become.”
North Central’s Eric Gordon
“They
made a lot of big shots. I thought we
played tough on defense. They hit the
big shots. That’s what it came
down to. It was getting out of hand
early. I thought it was the best two
teams here. I’m glad we had the
opportunity to be here. E’Twaun is a good player. We’ve got a lot of heart. We’ve been in that position
before. It was a good atmosphere. It was great to see a lot of fans
here.”